heart too hard and wicked to he ehanged. The heart of stone oan he made a heart of flesh. — ^There is no work too hard for a helieyer to do. We may do all things through Christ strengthening ns.— There is no trial too hard to he home. The grace of God is suffident for ns.— There is no promise too great to he fulfilled. Christ's words never pass away, and what He has promised He is able to perform. — ^There* is no difficulty too great for a believer to overcome. When God is for us, who shall be against us P The mountain shall become a plain.-* Let principles like these be continually before our minds. The angel's receipt is an invaluable remedy. Faith never rests so calmly and peacefully as when it lays its head on the pillow of God's omnipotence.
Let us mark, in the last place, the meek and ready acquiescence of the Virgin Mary in God's revealed will con- cerning her. She says to the angel, " Behold the hand- maid of the Lord ; be it unto me according to thy word."
There is far more of admirable grace in this answer than at first sight appears. A moment's reflection wiU show us, that it was no light matter to become the mother of our Lord in this unheard of and mysterious way. It brought with it, no doubt, at a distant period great honour ; but it brought with it for the present no small danger to Mary's reputation, and no small trial to Mary's faith. All this danger and trial the holy Yirgin was willing and ready to risk. She asks no farther questions. She raises no further objections. She accepts the honour laid upon her with all its attendant perils and incon- veniences. " Behold," she says, *^ the handmaid of the Loid.^
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EXPOSnOBT THOUGHTS.
Let us seek in our daily practical Christianity to exercise the same blessed spirit of fsdth which we see here in the Virgin Mary. Let us be willing to go anywhere^ and do anything, and be anything, whatever be tiie present and immediate inconvenience, so long as God's will is clear and the path of duty is plain. The words of good Bishop Hall on this passage are worth remem- bering. "All disputations with God after His will is known, arise from infidelity. There is not a more noble proof of faith than to captivate all the powers of our imderstanding and will to our Creator, and without all questionings to go blindfold whither He will lead us.''
Notes. Luke I. 34—38.
86. — [BeTiold thy cousin Elisabeth.l We should mark how graciously the angel helps the faith of the Virgin Mary, by telling her of a fact which may serve to assist her in receiving his message. This is the manner of God's dealings. He knows our weakness. It is like our Lord calling for meat, and eating of a broiled fish and honey-comb, to satisfy his disciples of the material reality of his risen body.